Wanted to give you an update.  It has been a long week, Walter as all of you know started a decline on Easter Sunday (the hospice people call it a transition period).  Well, Thursday evening- he sprung to life lucid at times and at times he was not.  Chris and I stayed up with him until,  2:30 am - he was wandering around the house- which not steady on his feet- makes it tough at times and talking and laughing.

He would look at both of us and just crack up laughing!  We had some really good talks.  He also was telling us that he had seen - (Al) ....  his sister Marie- I asked him what they talked about and he said.... wouldn't you like to know, ha!   also, he said,  John Mendel- which was one of his dear friends,  that passed away a couple of weeks ago- was waiting for him to play cards.  He said,  he had spoke with Harold Jr (his cousin).  Also, he talked in detail about our little dog Harley, who died in January, he said he has been running all over the place today, and will not settle down, we need to build a fence for him. 

 The hospice folks tell us what Walter is  seeing  and saying is  very real- and that we need to really pay attention. 

  He had a great day the following day was up more and talking.  We had a good day evening with him on Saturday, March 29th until around 11:00pm,  he started to get violent hiccups that continued and would not stop, he was very agitated and delirious, I had called the hospice folks at least 5 times during the night, had given him all the medication,  I could and it was still not working, finally they sent a nurse out to the house  the following day and she did an assesment - she said he is a fighter- and that she did not know if,  she should send him to the impatient care unit,  in the Medical Center - since he is soooooo strong willed and was bound and determined that he was staying at home.

 I really struggled with sending him as well!  The hiccups just continued to get worse and the nurse prayed about her decision and she told me,  I really feel that God is telling us to go ahead and have an ambulance pick him up and take him to the "Inpatient Hospice Care in the Medical Center.

 Chris, Toni and Steve- Walters friend drove down to the Medical center with me, His room number is 219, Houston Hospice and the address is 1905 Holcombe Blvd, nice place parking is free and friends and family are free to come and go- not visiting hours.

 I now know we,  made the right decision, the hiccups are still going on but not as bad, they  had to give Walt,  some very strong medication and he was in more pain then we knew.  Called the nurse early this morning and he was finally sleeping and doing better.  I am going to try and get some rest, I have not slept in several days.   

 I will send an update later tonight.  Sorry, for my grammar and run on sentences.  Please pass this e-mail on to the ones,  I do not have an e-mail address for at this moment.

 I love all of you,

Val